The 7 Greatest Game 7s in NBA History 

It’s just my opinion of my very finite mind, so don’t be too mad 😂 What were the best game 7s to you?

Doc Rivers was the starting PG on the '88 Hawks and they were actually up 3-2 against Boston. Meaning even as a player, Doc knew how to blow playoff leads.

Nets Bucks in 21 definitely deserves a spot, absolutely heroic performances by both Giannis and KD, and arguably the defining moment of Giannis’ ascent to the best in the league.

Bron's block and Kyrie's shot are legendary, but if you're talking about clutch moments in that game you have to bring up Love completely locking down prime Steph on the perimeter. What a moment for the guy to step up

Game 7 in 2010 was so stressful to watch. I will never forget how the bar i was at absolutely went crazy when Artest hit that shot.

Cavs had 3 clutch plays, the stop by Kevin Love always goes overlooked

Game 7 of the 2016 Finals will forever be the greatest game I’ve ever seen in my entire life.

2010 finals game 7 was an instant classic. I remember I was at my grandmas house while my parents were out of town and man that whole game was a edge of your seat nail biter. Rip Kobe!

That cavs-warriors gm 7 was super intense. Nobody have scored for 4 minutes and one basket would surely decide who's going to win the game. I'm rooting for the Cavs to win and really was hopeless when iggy drove to the basket to score the 1st point in the last 4 minutes when LeBron came out of nowhere to block that shot. And then when kyrie hit that 3, that sigh of relief was so satisfying after that intense sequence.

Spurs-Pistons in 2005 was an iconic showcase of defense

I will never ever forget that 2000 Lakers-Blazers game 7. That 15 point comeback was epic enough but was also the first step toward that Laker team becoming a Dynasty. What a joy it was to watch live.

The 2019 Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers when Kawhi hit that buzzer beater game winner in game 7 was insane

How do you not mention the fact that Chamberlain tried to re-enter the game and Butch Van Bredda Koff said tell the sob we don’t need him?

'06 Spurs vs Mavs would be up there for me. That was really world class.

Lakers kings 2002 Kobe had a clutch performance in the 4th quarter and overtime and one of the most overlooked things about that game was he got his 5th personal foul early in the 4th quarter and played the rest of the game near perfect

It sucks that the Tim Donaghy stuff has to cloud the series because Game 7 of Lakers-Kings in 2002 was fun and stressful to watch, and was the real finals that year.

Celtics v Pistons game 7, 1987 ECF should be on the list, that was a brutal physical series.

Jimmy Butler since joining the Heat 🔥 -First NBA Finals (2020) appearance since Bron era -First No. 8 seed to reach NBA Finals since 1999 -First Play-In team to make Conf. Finals + NBA Finals -Led Miami to third Conf. Finals in four seasons -Headed to second NBA Finals in four seasons Jimmy Butler wins the ECF MVP! Jimmy Butler has averaged 24.7PPG 7.6 RPG 6.1 APG 2.6 SPG 0.5 BPG 41.7/31.3/84.6 In 7 games versus Jayson Tatum in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals. Jimmy Butler has a 2-2 record in game sevens in his career 50% win percentage Jimmy Butler has averaged 22.0 PPG 6.3 RPG 3.0 APG 0.7 SPG 43.4/28.4/76.2 in 4 games in game sevens in his career. Jimmy Butler has averaged -23.3 PPG -6.9 RPG -4.9 APG -44.4% -28.8 % -86.0% in 20 games in Eastern Conference Finals in his career Jimmy Butler 28.5PPG 7.0 RPG 5.7 APG 2.0 SPG 48.8/34.6/81 in 17 games in the 2023 playoffs. -Jimmy Butler is 11-9 in the playoffs versus Jayson Tatum in his career. Jimmy Butler is 12-5 in the 2023 playoffs The Heat are the 2nd 8 seed to reach the Finals, joining the Knicks in 1999. They become the 3rd team in NBA history to rank last in PPG during the regular season and reach the NBA Finals. The Miami Heat made their first NBA Finals appearance in 2006, they have been back 6 times since including this season. Those 7 NBA Finals appearances are the most in the NBA during that span. For more stats like this , highlights , lowlights , updates and debates follow me on Twitter, Fb, IG, and TikTok

I see Bird in the thumbnail, I click

Good list. Nice to see someone who appreciates the 2010 game 7. I remember watching it thinking it was the greatest game I'd ever seen and then seeing espn saying it was a terrible game.

Thank you Jonny, love your list of game 7s!

Great list, 1987 ECF Celtics vs Pistons, Bird was 37-9-9 won by 2 pts, I know you put 2 Bird games, Bird was so clutch in game 7's.

Definitely should’ve added bucks vs nets game 7 at that time kd had the most points in a game 7 in history

What about Spurs vs Pistons in 2005. As a Spurs fan, that was an iconic game to me with Duncan getting his 3rd ring.

This was an excellent video and breakdown. I'm so excited for the Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics Game 7 tonight! ❤❤❤❤

Larry bird in that 7 game was at his best version for me, he was fast, clutch and an excellent defender. He would have been more greater if not for the injuries cause in 1984 he lost speed and athleticism

3-1 comeback was history especially over a plus 70 win team!

I hope that we get another classic game 7 this playoffs. The Heat vs Celtics is almost guaranteed to to be in this conversation if it's anywhere even close to game 6 (the best game 6 I've personally seen) hopefully it lives up to the hype

Johnny's timing is impeccable.

Keep up the great content Jonny, really enjoying your last videos

Can you imagine if game 6 of Heat-Celtics this year was actually in game 7!! No way would that ever be topped as best game 7.

I’m always here when you drop Jon 💯

This is going to be good! 🔥

Pretty solid list. Spurs vs Pistons in 05 was pretty legendary as that was the coming out party for GINOBILI!

Honestly when people ask me what the best basketball game in history is, I usually say 93 finals or the 2016 finals. Simply the two single best performances in basketball I’ve ever seen

Great list and so glad you put in the game 7 from 1981 Celtics vs Sixers!! That series was full of great games.

This is random as hell but I miss the 2000s Basketball Nets. For example the Lakers and Timberwolves basketball nets. You can swish everything on their baskets. So visually pleasing and the sound of the swish is so pronounced. 1:35 Shaq SWISHED a damn lay up. That's what I'm talking about 😂😂

Thanks for reminding me of that game 7 between the Bulls and the Pacers, that was another one for the ages.

Lakers vs Kings 2002 WCF game seven is also another legendary game 7.

I might be biased cause I was at the game, but last years 2022 ecf game 7 was a really enjoyable and close game even as a heat fan

Excellent list Jonny! You're just missing that epic and controversial matchup between the Lakers and that talented Sacramento Kings team.

I love your channel

These was some good choices, I totally agree

That game7 that had the duel between Bird and Dominique was crazy!.. but I wouldn’t put it above game7 of the 1984 Finals, for example. Despite the fact that those Finals are at least top5 ever (legends everywhere on that court, two unreal teams, competitiveness at an all time high, 5 games ended up with less than a 11 point difference), that final game7 was also full of thrills! Celtics won by 9. That game7 between Boston and Philly in 1981?! That’s definitely on that top3 though, I agree. Hell, as far as Playoffs series go, that can be called the GOAT series! The physicality and competitiveness was UNREAL. Crazy basketball being played, and also two great teams! Game7 ended up with the Celtics winning by one point, yeah, but also.. game1 as well decided by only one point, and 3 other games decided by only two points!!!!

I see Kobe in the thumbnail, i click

I don’t see anyone mention it but Cavs vs Celtics in 08 was great also

Idk if it was on your list but Bron Vs Pierce in 2008 EFC was epic. They were trading buckets most of the game and it was close

I'm hyped for tonight. Don't matter that I live in Germany and have to get up at 2:30 a.m. I'll be watching it

Very nice list but I would add heat spurs 2013 to this. Top 5 for sure.

Last dance '98 Bulls vs Pacers game 7 eastern conference finals

I watched game 7 between the Cavs & Warriors in downtown Cleveland, I remember everything I did that day. That game was historic. You forgot that the city of Cleveland was riding a 50+ year title drought that ended that night. It was like the party from Project X.

81 ECF Game 7 definitely. I never tire of watching that game. It's the most physical game in the history of basketball. Both those teams would whoop the 16 Cavs or 16 Warriors. Those teams are soft.

Barkley's triple double in Game 7 of the WCF vs. Seattle in 1993.

Kobe in that game 7 against Portland was a sign that Kobe will be the next all-time great and soon be the best player in the league.

2016 was my favorite judging by how hype I was when Kyrie hit that shot

2010 Finals maybe the Last Old School Basketball Game. Each shot made worth more than just 2pts and 3pts considering how hard the defense was.

I have a suggestion for a video! Ive always wanted somebody to rank the top 10 most entertaining teams in nba history! (examples like the lob city clips, Showtime, the 00s suns. You can also do teams that displayed great basketball in general)

I would argue that '81 Celtics Sixers series was the best and most intense I've ever seen. Every game was a confrontation - every shot was contested. I've never seen a series that hard fought.

I remember watching that game 7 in 2016 and still couldn't believe the Cavs came back and won the series.

Don't forget Cavs Celtics 2008 East Semis Game 7. Lebron had 45 and Paul Pierce had 41 in a 5 point Celtics Victory

Nets Bucks in 2021 should be in the Top 5 imo

4:00 - This should happen in all games, especially in the postseason.

You should have waited one more day to make the video this game might be a top 7 game 7…good stuff Jonny

I like the 2010 Lakers vs Celtics because of the defensive both teams and it was intense game

All of them deserving but not sure how 1988 NBA Finals Game 7 Lakers vs Pistons DID NOT make the final cut. To me, they should've made 2016 Warriors-Cavs Game 7 1A and '88 LA-Detroit 1B.

NETS vs BUCKS where KD stepped on the 3-point line. But overall, I'd have to agree with your list, especially those that I managed to watch on TV. (starting from the Lakers vs Celtics 2010)

Lets get it great b.ball talk

If I was to extend this to ten I would have added the 2021 Bucks vs Nets game, the 2006 Mavs and Spurs game and the Celtics vs Hawks game from 1957, and honestly that one probably should be top 5.

Celtics vs Cavs 2008 definitely an honorable mention. Imo its the greatest NBA duel of the 21st century so far.

2016 thunder vs warriors and 2013 heat vs spurs were insane games

Glad I watched Game 7 in 2010. Every shot made is difficult and worth cheering. Now, it's a circus.

Jonny, I enjoy your basketball programs very much and I consider you to be very knowledgeable. However when it comes to game 7's there is no doubt in my mind that game 7 of the 1957 NBA finals is the greatest and possibly the greatest series ever played. Other game 7's would be the 1962 celtics vs. warriors and lakers, 1963 celtics vs. Royals, 1965 celtics vs. 76ers, 1966 celtics vs. Lakers and 1968 celtics vs. 76ers.

Good list! It is interesting how we always see the same names.when ir comes to greatness, Shame MJ didnt play Game 7s lol

Where is Jordan? Oh wait

Well hands down 2016 nba finals game 7 is the greatest and most iconic game 7 in nba history and one of the most iconic and greatest games and final series in nba history. We were blessed to witness the 2 greatest players of our generation duel in the finals multiple times but that year those series were the best. Also the lakers vs celtics were always iconic and even tho we didn't witness the duels between them during the 60s those years and the stacked amount of talent in both teams and then in the 80s those teams and duels even in today's era they would have been some of the greatest duels in history.

1957 finals should on the list .. it literally saved the nba at that time.. and its a classic double overtime game 7.... Havlicek 1965 east final stole the ball should also on the list

Bucks vs Nets 2021 ECSF game 7 best game I’ve seen imo

Rockets vs knicks game 7 should be up there too

Before watching the video, I knew 2016 was number 1. Great game with a ton of storylines attached.

i remember game 7 of nuggets vs jazz in "bubble" playoffs

The 2010 super tough and physical defense was never allowed again. The ALL OFFENSE NBA became so boring the ratings really fell. At least this season, there is some defense.

Game 7 of the 2016 finals is easily the best game of sports I have ever seen, and I am a fan of several sports (but to be fair I’m only 22 so some older games are blind spots for me)

Here are my Top 7 Game 7s in NBA History: 1. 1981 ECF - Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics 2. 2016 Finals - Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors 3. 2002 WCF - Los Angeles Lakers at Sacramento Kings 4. 1988 Finals - Detroit Pistons at Los Angeles Lakers 5. 2005 Finals - Detroit Pistons at San Antonio Spurs 6. 2000 WCF - Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers 7. 1982 ECF - Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics (the Birth of "Beat L.A.! Beat L.A.!" from the Boston Garden crowd to their respected eastern conference rival 76ers team)

Spurs v Mavs from 06 should be here

I need to see the 2001 Sixers and Raptors and the 2019 Sixers and Raptors

spurs heat 2013 was a close game all throughout. not as many storylines but a great game nonetheless

The east was weak during Lakers dynasty but the duel between Carter and Iverson was majestic.

Fun Fact: the Kawhi Game winner game was the first game I ever Watched. I remember hoping the raptors would win and they did not dissapoint

clutch suspensio of dreymond to make the series last all 7 games

Wow.....how is game 7 of the 1988 nba Finals between Detroit and LA not here? That is not just the greatest game 7 of NBA history....but the greatest Finals period!!

Jordan..."What's a Finals Game 7?"

The only time Lakers beat Celtics in Game 7 was the Kobe's Lakers on 2010. That series was epic!!!

2002 Lakers vs Kings, to me personally 1 of the best/most intense games I have ever seen, also one that I believe was rigged by the refs, who made some ridiculous and obvious horrible calls for the Lakers and against the Kings.

Lakers vs Kings in 2002 wow now that was a series...Minnesota vs the Kings in 04 KG having the best game of his life during that game 7.

Make a vid on the lakers and celtics rivalry

Honestly I think raptors vs 76ers was #1 because the buzzer beater. This was a game where Simmons showed up, Embiid showed up, butler went crazy, Harris and other sixers went crazy, Lowry, Gasol, Ibaka and Pascal went crazy. The fact that the raptors didn't go to game 7 for the rest of the playoffs to finally dethrone the warriors meant that the championship was truly to be determined by a 4 bounce game 7 buzzer beater for the only time.

Great list! Thanks for not succumbing to recency bias and limiting it to games of the past 20 years only. But that's not your style. You really know your NBA history, and can please old folks like me (watching since 1976-77 merger season) and the younger ones who never saw MJ or even Shaq in his prime. I would like to nominate these games. You can see that I am into historical milestones more than the actual excitement of the games, though some of these games had classic finishes too: 1. 1957 Game 7 of the Finals: Celtics beat St. Louis 125-123 in double overtime for Bill Russell's first title. You already indicated his last one in 1969, why not bookend it? A Game 7 ending in double overtime, can you imagine 2. Celtics beat Lakers 110-107 in OT in Game 7 of 1962 Finals. Russell's best Game 7 performance: 30 points, 40 rebounds. Lakers had chance to win it in regulation but Frank Selvy missed an open shot at buzzer with game tied. In Game 3 earlier, Jerry West beat the buzzer with a steal and layup to win the game, then in Game 5, Elgin Baylor scored a record 61 points to give Lakers a 3-2 series lead. In end, it was still Boston and Bill Russell. 3. Game 7 1965 East Finals Boston nips 76ers by 1 as Havlicek steals the ball 4. 1970 Finals Knicks-Lakers. The Willis Reed game. Was there ever a game which was over before it even began? Once Willis came in to the court... 5. 1982 Eastern Finals Sixers crush Celtics to avenge their loss in 1981. With seconds ticking away, Boston fans actually call for 76ers to "Beat LA!" And a famous sports chant began. I think it was Julius Erving's best NBA playoff game ever, with his scoring, defense and leadership. They didnt win the Finals vs Lakers that year, but they did the next 6. 1988 Game 7 Finals: Lakers beat Detroit to become first NBA team to win back to back titles since Russell's Celtics nearly 20 years earlier. Lakers took big lead in 4th but Pistons chipped away and almost tied it in end. I know, the refs allowed the fans to storm the court early when Pistons still had a chance to tie game, but it was a very well-played game, James Worthy had the best game of his life, and it was significant due to Lakers breaking the then existing jinx against title repeats. It was also played on June 21, the first time the NBA season officially stretched to summer, making the NBA the only North American sports league with a season whose duration touched each of the 4 seasons. 7. 1995 Western semis - Rockets rally from 3-1 deficit vs Suns as Mario Elie hits corner three to win game with 7 seconds left and blows the Kiss of Death to Suns bench 8. 1998 East Finals Bulls vs Pacers - the only time during MJ's 6 title runs where Bulls were really in peril of losing. Almost all other playoff matches (even against great Jazz and Suns teams) for Bulls ended in 6 games or less. There was one other Game 7, vs. the Knicks in 1992 East semis, but that one ended in an easy blowout win for Bulls. In.this one, Pacers had a 5-point lead with less than 5 minutes left but couldn't hold on in a tight defensive battle. 9. 2013 Game 7 Finals: Miami beats Spurs in a close one. LBJ with one of his best Finals games with 37 points, including jumper which sealed title. This Miami win made the legendary game-saving three by Ray Allen in previous Game 6 relevant. If Heat had lost, the Ray Allen shot wouldn't have been so relevant (similar to how outcome of Boston-Miami Game 7 later will determine how Derrick White's heroics will be remembered years from now) 10. 2021 Eastern semis : Bucks beat Nets in OT and go on to win title, but Nets could have won it in regulation with Kevin Durant's jumper with 1 second left. It was called a two and tied game. But his foot was barely on the three-point line. If it had been a three, Nets would have won. Durant scored 48 in losing cause,which was then a record for a Game 7.

a video on Dream Team 2 (94 FIBA Team). i know you see me Jonny.

You should add the stop from kevin love yk?

I just remember near the game 7 end of the Celtics vs. Lakers, Kobe looked exhausted. He looked as wore out as he did in his final game in the NBA. He was so hurt, but he would not dare miss a damn playoff game. Especially against the Celtics in the finala. Honestly, he had no business even shooting the ball, so he grabbed 15 freaking rebounds and played hellacious defense. Lebron can have all his stats, he'll never replace Kobe, and i don't even hate Lebron.